Lubricating system



July 10, 1951 E, MANGELS 7 2,560,461

LUBRICATING SYSTEM Filed Oct. 6, 1949 Patented July 10, 1951 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

The invention relates to lubricating systems, and more particularly tothat type in which oil under pressure is delivered to a divider anddis-'- tributed to a plurality of elements to be lubricated.

One object of the invention is to provide a lubricating system whichcomprises a casing containing a divider for the oil with means forheating the oil to control its viscosity and controlling itsdistribution to the elements to be lubricated.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved lubricatingapparatus which comprises a casing containing a divider-pad for the oilto which oil is delivered under pressure by a single duct and ,by whichthe oil is uniformly distributed to the elements to be lubricated and inwhich the divider-pad has the dimensional capacity to supply the oil tothe group of elements to be lubricated.

Another object of the invention is to provide lubricating apparatuswhich comprises a casing containing a divider-pad to which the oil isfed under pressure, for uniformly distributing the oil to the severalelements to be lubricated and is simple in construction and efiicient inoperation.

Other objects of the invention will the detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features hereinafter setforth and more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

Fig. l is a plan of the oil divider and distributor.

Fig. 2 is a section-taken on line 2--2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a sectiontaken on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an inverted plan of the cover section of. the casing.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the cover.

Fig. '7 is a section on an enlarged scale showing the deflection of thefibers in the upper and lower corners of the pad.

The invention is exemplified in a lubricating system for distributingoil from a source under pressure, such as a pump, to pedestal ways forthe journal boxes for the axle of a pair of driving wheels of alocomotive (not shown), or other machinery.

The system comprises, generally, a casing to which oil is forced underpressure, a fibrous pad in the casing for dividing the, oil, and aseries of pipe connections torwhich the oil is separately delivered bycapillary division, for delivery to the elements to be lubricated.

A casing comprises a body l5 which is provided with integral. laterallyprojecting lugs l6 which appear from are adapted to be secured by boltsl! to any suitggle part of a support, and a detachable cover acylindrical wall l9 and an integral cross-wall 2| which define a chamberwith an open upper end, a cylindrical side and a fiat bottom. The openupper end of chamber 20" is closed by cover 22. Studs 24 are secured inthe body l5 and extend through holes in cover 22. Nuts 25 on the upperend of studs 24 are adapted to secure the cover on the casing body 15.The cover 22 is provided with an annular face 26 which fits on acorresponding annular face 23 on the upper end of body l5. These facesare tightly sealed together when cover 22 is secured on body l5 by studs24 and nuts 25. An integral extension 28 on the cover fits in the upperend of chamber 20 and extends below the face 23 on body l5.

A transverse duct 39 is formed in an integral portion of the casing-body2| for conducting oil under pressure from a pipe 3| to which oil may bedelivered under pressure from any suitable source, such as the usualpump (not shown). The duct 30 terminates in an axially extending branch32 which communicates with and terminates at the top face of the wall2|, so as to deliver oil to the central portion of the bottom of chamber20. A series of restricted ducts 34 in the cover 22 communicate with andlead from the inner face 35 of the extension 38 and are communicativelyconnected to the pipes 36, respectively, for delivering oil to theelements to be lubricated. Ducts 34 are symmetrically disposed aroundthe axis of chamber 20. The pipes 36 are usually flexible and each isconnected by a union coupling 3! to the cover section 22 of the casing.

A cylindrical pad 21 composed of fibrous material, such as felt, isconfined and compressed in the chamber 20 for dividing the flow of oildelivered into the bottom of said chamber through branch 32 of deliveryduct 30. The pad is preformed of uniform density to fit in chamber 29,with fiat top and bottom faces, and extends between and conforms to thetop face of bottom wall 2| and the bottom face of extension 28 of thecover, and is cylindrical to conform to the inner face of cylindricalwall IS. The divider pad 21 is composed of fibers which extendsubstantially transversely of cylindrical chamber 20 or approximatelyparallel to the upper face of wall 2| and the bottom face 35 of themember 28 on the cover. Normally the pad is approximately equal inheight to chamber 20. The normal height of the pad may be 1 inches, Whencover 22 is secured on the body l5, the extension mem- The body i5 ofthe casing is provided withher 28 will be forced into the upper end ofchamber and compress the pad substantially 12 or reduce its height to1-inch. This compression of the pad densifies it to a predetermineddegree and uniformly throughout substantially the entire area of thechamber 20. The transverse direction of the fibers causes theinterstices between them to extend approximately transversely of chamber20. Due to the compression of the pad and the transverse direction ofthe fibers, pressure on the oil is necessary to force the oil throughthe interstices between the fibers to the top surface of the pad. Theoil enters chamber 20 under pressure at branch 32 of the delivery duct,and seeps into substantially all portions of the pad. The cylindricalsurfaces of chamber 20 and the bottom face of cover 22 are machined toform smooth surfaces for uniform compression of the pad. The outlets 34which are connected to the pipes 36 are of equal cross-sectional andrestricted area. The pressure in the portions of the pads exposed to theoutlets 34 results in the delivery of the same volume at each outlet 34,against resistance of different values in the pipes 36.

Since the fibers extend transversely of chamber 20 their ends whichcontact the cylindrical surface on the side wall l9 of chamber 20 willnot form a seal which prevents oil from seeping upwardly between theperiphery of the pad and said cylindrical surface. The extension 28 ofthe cover has formed therein an annular groove 45 leaving a sharpannular edge 43 around the lower face 35 on the cover, making a part ofsurface 45 conical. An annular groove 48 with a sharp corner 49 isformed in the bottom wall 2| of chamber 20 at the corner between saidwall and the cylindrical wall i9, similarly as shown at 45. When the padis compressed in chamber by cover 22 the ends of the fibers in the topof the pad are deflected sharply into the groove 43 and the ends of thefibers at the bottom of the pad are bent sharply into the groove 45.This construction results in sealing the pad at its upper and lowercorners against the flow of oil directly between the contiguous surfacesof the pad and the chamber 20, from the inlet 32 to the ducts 34 in thecover, and uniform distribution of oil in the pad and in connection withthe uniform density of the direction of the fibers in the pad results inequal distribution of oil from the central inlet 32 to the outlet ducts34 in the cover.

In practice, it has been found that temperature changes producevariations in the viscosity of the lubricating oil in the casing whichinterferes with the flow of oil from the divider to the elements to belubricated. The invention provides for heating the casing which containsthe divider-pad, to control the viscosity of the oil in the pad andcontrolling its flow to the pipes 35 for feeding the oil at the desiredrate to the elements to be lubricated. The body I5 is provided with asteam jacketaround the side-wall l9 and bottom wall 2| of the chambercontaining the compressed divider-pad, for heating the oil in the pad tocontrol its iscosity so that a pre-- determined pressure will result inuniformly distributing the oil to the outlets 34 and pipes 35. The steamchamber of the jacket is formed by an outer wall 39 integral with thecasing body and extending around and under the wall l9 and bottom 2|of'the chamber 20 which contains the pad 21. The steam chamber comprisesa circumferentially extending portion 40 around the annular wall aroundthe chamber 20 and a connecting angular portion 4| under the wall 2|which forms one end of the chamber 20. A radial wall 44 is integrallyformed with the body l5 and extends between the bottom wall 2| and thebottom wall of the steam jacket. This wall 44 forms a bafile fordirecting the steam circumferentially around the steam chamber betweenpipes 42 and 43, and which conducts heat to the oil in the duct 30. Thesteam is delivered to and from the jacket by one of the pipes 42 and 43and exhausted through the other. The supply pipe may be connected to anysuitable source. These pipes communicate with said heating chamber atopposite sides of the radial wall 44 in the casing body through whichthe supply duct 3|] extends, so that the wall acts as a bafile and steamflows into the jacket at one side of radial wall 44, circulates aroundsaid jacket, and exhausts at the opposite side of said wall for heattransfer to the pad 21 and the oil therein. The inlet duct 30 extendsthrough bafiie-wall 44 so that the oil flowing to the chamber 21 will beheated in flowing to said chamber.

The operation will be as follows: Oil under pressure is fed from pipe 3|through ducts 30, 32 to the bottom of the cylindrical chamber 20 andinto contact with the contiguous face of pad 21, which is maintainedunder compression for dividing the oil for distribution to ducts 34. Theoil in restricted volume passes transversely 'between the fibers of thepad 21 and then longitudinally to the outlet ducts 34, The pad is underuniform compression which causes uniform distribution of the oil bypressure to all of the ducts 35 from which the oil flows via pipes 36 toall of the elements to be lubricated. The deflection of the ends of thefibers of the pad at its corners prevents direct fiow of oil from theinlet 32 around the pad to the outlets 34. The ducts 34 are restrictedto limit the flow of oil to the desired rate through pipes 36. Thedimensional capacity of the chamber 20 and the compressed pad 21 issufficient to maintain uniform flow from the duct 32 to all of theoutlet ducts 34. The heat from the jacket is applied to the wall inwhich duct 33 is formed and through the walls of the casing body aroundchamber 20 to the pad 2'! and thereby the viscosity of the oil can belowered and controlled to insure suflicient fluidity for its flow at thepredetermined rate through the pad and through ducts 34 to pipes 35.

If desired, one or more of the outlet ducts 34 may be closed to providefor twoor three-way division of the oil. These changes may be made byremoving the couplings 3'1 and substituting screw plugs withoutdisturbing ,any of the steam or oil connections. The cover plate 22 isfirmly secured on the casing body by studs 23 and nuts 25. The coverplate can be readily removed for inspection or replacement of the pad'21. The latter functions as a strainer as well as a divider.

The invention exemplifies a lubricating system or apparatus whichcomprises a divider for flow of the oil under pressure and means forheating the oil to control its viscosity and insure distribution to theelements to be lubricated. The invention also exemplifies a lubricatingdevice which includes a divider by which the oil will be evenlydistributed to the outlets, and is simple in construction and efficientin operation. The invention also exemplifies a construction whichfacilitates the inspection and replacement of the divider pad. p

This application is in part a continuation of an application filed by meJuly 10, 1944, Serial No; 544,213 and now abandoned.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details setforth, since these may be modified within the scope of the appendedclaims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what -I claim as .new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

l. A lubricating system comprising? a .casing including a body providedwith an annular vertical wall and a flat bottom wall defining a chamberwith an open top and a cover detachably secured on the body, forming atop closure and provided with a flat bottom face; a preformed pad offibrous material having its fibers extending substantially transverselyof and substantially filling said chamber and uniformly compressedbetween the fiat faces of the cover and the bottom wall; means includinga duct in the body terminating in the central portion of the upper faceof the bottom wall for delivering oil under pressure to the pad; thecover being provided with a series of symmetrically disposed individualflow restricting ports communicating with the top face of the pad, forseparately delivery oil from the pad to difierent elements to belubricated; and means forming an offset in the chamber for angularlydeflecting the ends of fibers in the pad for preventing direct fiow ofoil between the contiguous surfaces of the pad and walls of the chamberfrom the inlet duct to the outlet ports.

2. A lubricating system comprising: a casing including a body providedwith a cylindrical wall and a flat bottom wall defining a chamber withan open top and a cover detachably secured on the body, forming a topclosure and provided with a flat bottom face; a cylindrical pad offibrous material having its fibers extending substantially transverselyof and substantially filling said chamber and uniformly compressedbetween the flat faces of the cover and the bottom walY; means includinga duct in the body terminating in the central portion of the upper faceof the bottom wall for delivering oil under pressure to the pad; thecover being provided with a series of symmetrically disposed individualflow restricting ports communicating with the top face of the pad, forseparately delivering oil from the pad to different elements to belubricated; and means forming an offset in the chamber for angularlydeflecting the ends of fibers in one of the corners of the pad-forpreventing direct flow of oil between the contiguous surfaces of the padand walls of the chamber from the inlet duct to the outlet ports.

3. A lubricating system comprising: a casing including a body providedwith an annular vertical wall and a flat bottom wall defining a chamberwith an open top and a cover detachably secured on the body, forming atop closure and provided with a flat bottom face; a pad of fibrousmaterial having its fibers extending substantially transversely of andsubstantially filling said chamber and uniformly compressed between theflat faces of the cover and the bottom wall; means including a duct inthe body terminating in the central portion of the upper face of thebottom Wall for delivering oil under pressure to the pad; the coverbeing provided with a series of symmetrically disposed individual flowrestricting ports communicating with the top face of the pad, forseparately delivering oil from the pad '6 to the' different elements tobe lubricated; and means on the cover for angularly deflecting the endsof the fibers in the upper corners of therpad for preventing direct flowof oil between the contiguous surfaces of the pad and walls of thechamber from the inlet duct to the outlet ports.

4. A lubricating system comprising: a casin including a body providedwith an annular vertical wall and a fiat bottom wall defining a chamberwith an open top and a cover detachably secured on the body, forming atop closure and provided with a-flat bottom face; a pad of fibrousmaterial having itsfibers extending substantially transversely of andsubstantially filling said chamber and uniformly compressed between theflat faces of the cover and the bottom wall; means including a duct inthe body terminating in the central portion of the upper face of thebottom wall for delivering oil under pressure to the pad; the coverbeing provided with a series of symmetrically disposed individual flowrestricting ports communicating with the top face of the pad, forseparately delivering oil from the pad to different elements to belubricated; and means for angularly deflecting the ends of the fibers inthe upper and lower corners of the pad for preventing direct flow of oilbetween the contiguous surfaces of the pad and walls of the chamber fromthe inlet duct to the outlet ports.

5. A lubricating system comprising: a casing including a body providedwith a cylindrical wall and a fiat bottom wall defining a chamber withan open top and a cover detachably secured on the body, forming a topclosure and provided with a flat bottom face; a pad of fibrous materialhaving its fibers extending substantially transversely of andsubstantially filling said chamber and uniformly compressed between theflat faces of the cover and the bottom wall; means including a duct inthe body terminating in the central portion of the upper face of thebottom wall for delivering oil under pressure to the pad; the coverbeing provided with a series of symmetrically disposed individual flowrestricting ports communicating with the top face of the pad, forseparately delivering oil from the pad to different elements to belubricated; the cover having an annular groove with a sharp corner forangularly deflecting the ends of adjacent fibers in the pad, and thebottom wall having a groove with a sharp corner for deflecting theadjacent ends of the fibers in the pad, for preventing direct flow ofoil between the contiguous surfaces of the pad and walls of the chamberfrom the inlet duct to the outlet ports.

6. Lubricating apparatus, comprising: a casing including a body-sectionprovided with a cylindrical chamber and a removable cover, a compressedpad of fibrous material filling said chamber, means including a duct inthe body-section for delivering oil under pressure and communicativelyconnected to the central portion of one end of the chamber, the oppositeend of the casing being provided with symmetrically disposed individualflow-restricting ducts which are communicatively connected to the pad atthe opposite end of the chamber, conduits individually connected to theflow-restricting ducts for separately delivering oil from the individualflow-restricting ducts to elements to be lubricated, and an integralheating jacket in the body-section extending circumferentially aroundand across one end of the cylindrical chamber, for heating the pad andcontrolling the viscosity of the oil to maintain capillary flow throughthe pad to the flow-restricted asemmr "7 ports, the body-section beingprovided in the heating jacket with a bathe-wall through which thedelivery duct extends.

7. A lubricating system comprising: a casing including a body providedwith a bottom wall and a side wall forming a vertically extendingchamber open at its upper end and a cover detachably secured on the bodyand forming a top closure, a compressed pad of fibrous materialcompletely filling said chamber and contacting throughout the innerfaces of the cover, the bottom and side walls of the chamber, meansincluding a duct extending transversely of the bottom wall in anintegral portion of the body terminating at the lower face of the padfor constantly delivering oil under-pressure to the pad, the body havingan integral heating jacket surrounding the side wall and bottom wallandthe portion or the body 8 through which the transverse duct extends, forheating the pad and controlling the viscosity of the oil passing throughthe pad.

ERWIN G. MANGELS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

